Thirty-five attended a talk on “The Young Charles Darwin in Cambridge” by Murray Jacobs from Linton.  Darwin’s mother was part of the Wedgewood Pottery family and his father was a successful doctor.  Charles attended Shrewsbury School as a boarder but hated it and was eventually removed as a failure.  Aged 15 his father sent him to Edinburgh University, with his brother Erasmus, to study medicine but Darwin felt queasy at the sight of blood and he left Edinburgh without taking a degree.  His father, anxious that he did not become idle, insisted that Darwin take up clerical studies in Cambridge.  His name was listed in the admissions book at Christ’s…

Bus Service Although responsibility for local bus services now sits with the Mayoral Combined Authority (CPCA), their reliability and accessibility remain a significant concern for residents in Over. Encouraging greater use of public transport and active travel is essential for a growing community and brings wider environmental and public health benefits. On Friday 17 January, I met with officers from the CPCA and Stagecoach to discuss practical ways to improve services and make buses a more attractive option for residents. While it would be difficult to introduce new services or major changes during the current fencing works, the discussions were constructive. A number of proposals are now being explored and…

Happy New Year everyone. SCDC pledges £900,000 to local organisations through 3-year Service Support Grant funding SCDC has just committed Service Support Grant funding of £300,000 a year to local groups to underpin the delivery of services to support people with their mental health, independent living, advice services, and to help residents through the cost-of-living crisis. I’m delighted to report that Over Day Centre, for the first time, is one of the recipients of this funding.  SCDC’s Service Support Grant funding has almost doubled compared to the previous budget, made possible by prudent management of the council’s finances and a recognition of the acute need for these services. Grant recipients…

Over Gardening Club’s January meeting will be held in the main hall at Over Community Centre at 7.30pm.  This month we have a talk by Barry Gayton entitled “Bulbs, Corms & Tubers”. We are a friendly group of gardeners and plant lovers who have regular meetings with a speaker and raffle and occasional plant sales.  Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month; from September to May we meet at Over Community Centre where we usually have a guest speaker talking on various aspects of gardening, in June we often arrange a visit to a local garden and in July we hold a social evening.  Membership runs annually…

Local Highway Improvement (LHI) Applications Over Parish Council is keen to support the zebra crossing near the primary school, a vital step toward improving safety for our children and community. How you can help:• Sign a petition• Contribute financially• Record a short video in support• Share your own ideas Together, we can make this project a reality. Please note: LHI allows only one application per Parish Council, so the Council must decide which project to prioritise and whether community funding (including Over Parish Council’s contribution) can meet the 10% minimum requirement for any LHI application. I will fully support whichever decision the Parish Council makes. Longstanton Bridge – Safer Access…